Theatre News

David Oakes, Maggie Bain, Sam Callis and more cast in Shakespeare's Rose 2019 York season

The line-up for the pop-up venue’s summer season has been revealed

Mark Holgate, Sam Callis, Maggie Bain, David Oates and Olivia Onyehara
Mark Holgate, Sam Callis, Maggie Bain, David Oates and Olivia Onyehara
© Charlotte Graham

Casting has been announced for the Shakespeare's Rose York theatre season, with four shows, Henry V, Hamlet, The Tempest and Twelfth Night running in rep between two companies.

Maggie Bain (The End of the F***ing World) will take on the lead role in Henry V, as well as the role of Antonia in The Tempest. Sam Callis (Game of Thrones) will play Prospero in The Tempest and the King of France/Erpingham in Henry V. The pair will be joined by Ali Azhar, Raphael Bushay, Niall Costigan, Richie Daysh, Leander Deeny, Jessica Dennis, Charlyne Francis, Alexandra Guelff, Scott Hoatson, Alexander Knox, Christopher Logan, Amy Loughton, Peter Moreton, Johanne Murdock, Marilyn Nnadebe, Paul Sockett and Flo Wilson.

Victoria's David Oakes will be part of the other company and takes on the titular role in Hamlet. Alongside Oakes will be Leandra Ashton, Antony Bunsee, Claire Corbett, Marcello Cruz, Fine Time Fontayne , Hannah Francis-Barker, Mark Holgate, Gordon Kane, Rina Mahoney, Serena Manteghi, Olivia Onyehara, Alex Phelps, Richard Standing, Claire Storey, Cassie Vallance, Wreh-asha Walton and Declan Wilson. Onyehara, Holgate and Ashton all return after appearing in last year's companies.

Damian Cruden will direct Hamlet and serves as overall artistic director for the companies. Joyce Branangh will direct Twelfth Night, Philip Franks directs The Tempest and Gemma Fairlie helms Henry V.

The creative teams for the four shows have also been announced. Sara Perks returns to act as overall season designer as well as scenic and costume designer for Hamlet and costume designer for Twelfth Night. Adrian Linford will be scenic and costume designer for The Tempest and costume designer for Henry V. Max Dorey will be scenic designer for Twelfth Night and Henry V.

The Shakespeare's Rose in York is one of two pop-up Shakespearean venues, alongside a twin venue at Blenheim in Oxfordshire. Both theatres will be running a total of eight Shakespeare plays, with casting for the Blenheim performances to be announced.

The venues are located within an Elizabethan-style village which includes wagon performances and entertainment, oak-framed pub, an Elizabethan garden and a village pond.

The four productions will run from 25 June to 1 September.